exhibit a(2)
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST
EFFECTIVE MARCH 30, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 NAME AND DEFINITIONS.............................................1
Section 1.1 Name.......................................................1
Section 1.2 Definitions................................................1
ARTICLE 2 PURPOSE OF TRUST.................................................3
ARTICLE 3 SHARES...........................................................3
Section 3.1 Shares of Beneficial Interest...............................3
Section 3.2 Establishment and Designation of Portfolios and Classes.....4
Section 3.3 Actions Affecting Portfolios................................5
Section 3.4 Relative Rights and Preferences.............................5
Section 3.5 Notices.....................................................8
Section 3.6 Ownership of Shares.........................................8
Section 3.7 Investments in the Trust....................................8
Section 3.8 Status of Shares; Limitation of Personal Liability and
Indemnification of Shareholders.............................8
ARTICLE 4 THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES............................................9
Section 4.1 Number......................................................9
Section 4.2 Election and Tenure.........................................9
Section 4.3 Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee............10
Section 4.4 Trustee Compensation.......................................10
ARTICLE 5 POWER OF THE TRUSTEES...........................................10
Section 5.1 Management of the Trust....................................10
Section 5.2 Manner of Acting; By-Laws..................................10
Section 5.3 Powers of the Trustees.....................................11
Section 5.4 Payment of Expenses by the Trust...........................14
Section 5.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust...........................14
Section 5.6 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares..........................15
Section 5.7 Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating
to Shares..................................................15
ARTICLE 6 SERVICE CONTRACTS...............................................15
Section 6.1 Investment Manager.........................................15
Section 6.2 Principal Underwriter......................................16
Section 6.3 Other Service Contracts....................................16
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
Section 6.4 Validity of Contracts......................................16
ARTICLE 7 SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS........................16
Section 7.1 Voting Powers..............................................16
Section 7.2 Meetings...................................................17
Section 7.3 Quorum and Required Vote...................................17
Section 7.4 Action by Written Consent..................................17
Section 7.5 Record Dates...............................................17
ARTICLE 8 NET ASSET VALUE, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND REDEMPTIONS.................18
Section 8.1 Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and
Distributions..............................................18
Section 8.2 Redemptions and Repurchases................................18
Section 8.3 Redemptions at the Option of the Trust.....................19
Section 8.4 Transfer of Shares.........................................19
ARTICLE 9 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION........................19
Section 9.1 Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Others.............19
Section 9.2 Indemnification............................................20
Section 9.3 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees...........22
Section 9.4 Insurance..................................................22
Section 9.5 Derivative Actions.........................................22
Section 9.6 Modifications of this Article..............................22
ARTICLE 10 TERMINATION; MERGER; Reorganization.............................23
Section 10.1 Termination of Trust or Portfolio.........................23
Section 10.2 Merger and Consolidation..................................23
Section 10.3 Reorganization............................................23
ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS...................................................24
Section 11.1 Amendments................................................24
Section 11.2 Filing of Copies..........................................24
Section 11.3 References and Headings...................................24
Section 11.4 Applicable Law............................................24
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
Section 11.5 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations...........25
Section 11.6 Statutory Trust Only.....................................25
Section 11.7 Counterparts.............................................25
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST
THE AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST of CRM Mutual Fund Trust (the
"Trust"), dated as of March 30, 2005, among the individuals listed on the
signatory page attached hereto (each, a "Trustee") and each person who becomes
a Shareholder (as defined in Section 1.2) in accordance with the terms
hereinafter set forth.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 1.1, the Trustees are authorized to conduct
the business of the Trust under any name that they may determine;
WHEREAS, the Trustees have determined that the business of the Trust shall
be conducted under the name of "CRM Mutual Fund Trust" and a Certificate of
Trust was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March
30, 2005 to form the Trust;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Trustees do hereby declare that all money and property
contributed to the Trust hereunder shall be held and managed in trust under
this Agreement and Declaration of Trust for the benefit of the Shareholders as
set forth below.
ARTICLE 1
NAME AND DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Name. This trust shall be known as "CRM Mutual Fund Trust" and the
Trustees shall conduct the business of the Trust under that name or any other
name as they may from time to time determine.
Section 1.2 Definitions. Whenever used herein, unless otherwise required by the
context or specifically provided:
1.2.1 "By-Laws" shall mean the By-Laws of the Trust as amended from time
to time.
1.2.2 "Classes" shall mean a portion of Shares of a Portfolio of the Trust
established in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 hereof.
1.2.3 "Covered Person" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
9.2.1.
1.2.4 "Declaration of Trust" shall mean this Agreement and Declaration of
Trust, as amended or restated from time to time.
1.2.5 "Delaware Act" refers to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, 12 Del.
C. Section 3801 et seq., as such act may be amended from time to time.
1.2.6 "Class Expenses" shall mean expenses incurred by a particular Class
in connection with a shareholder services arrangement or a distribution plan
that is specific to such Class or any other differing share of expenses or
differing fees, in each case, pursuant to a plan adopted by the Trust pursuant
to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, as such plan or rule may be amended from time
to time.
1.2.7 "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2.8 "General Assets" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.1
hereof.
1.2.9 "Interested Person" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a)(19) of the 0000 Xxx.
1.2.10 "Investment Manager" or "Manager" shall mean a party furnishing
services to the Trust pursuant to any contract described in Section 6.1 hereof.
1.2.11 "Person" shall mean and include any of the following: individuals,
limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, trusts, foundations,
plans, associations, joint ventures, estates and other entities, whether or not
legal entities, and governments and agencies and political subdivisions
thereof, whether domestic or foreign.
1.2.12 "Portfolio" refers to each series of Shares established and
designated under or in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 hereof.
1.2.13 "Principal Underwriter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(a)(29) of the 0000 Xxx.
1.2.14 "Proportionate Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.2.2 hereof.
1.2.15 "Shares" means the shares of beneficial interest into which the
beneficial interest in the Trust shall be divided from time to time or, when
used in relation to any particular Portfolio or Class of Shares established by
the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, shares of beneficial interest into
which such Portfolio or Class of Shares shall be divided from time to time in
accordance with the terms hereof. The term "Shares" includes fractions of
Shares as well as whole Shares.
1.2.16 "Shareholder" means a record owner of outstanding Shares of the
Trust.
1.2.17 "Successor Entity" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
10.3.
1.2.18 "Trust" refers to the Delaware statutory trust established by this
Declaration of Trust.
1.2.19 "Trustees" refers to the persons who have signed this Declaration
of Trust, so long as they continue in office in accordance with the terms
hereof, and all other persons who may from time to time be duly elected or
appointed to serve on the Board of Trustees in accordance with the provisions
hereof, and reference herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such
person or persons in their capacity as trustees hereunder.
1.2.20 "Trust Property" means any and all property, real or personal,
tangible or intangible, which is owned or held by or for the account of the
Trust.
1.2.21 "1940 Act" refers to the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, each as amended from time to
time. References herein to specific sections of the 1940 Act shall be deemed to
include such rules and regulations as are applicable to such sections as
determined by the Trustees or their designees.
ARTICLE 2
PURPOSE OF TRUST
The purpose of the Trust is to conduct, operate and carry on the business
of an open-end management investment company registered under the 1940 Act
through one or more Portfolios investing primarily in securities and to carry
on such other business as the Trustees may from time to time determine pursuant
to authority under this Declaration of Trust.
ARTICLE 3
SHARES
Section 3.1 Shares of Beneficial Interest.
3.1.1 The beneficial interest in the Trust shall at all times be divided
into an unlimited number of Shares, with a par value of $.01 per Share,
provided that the Shares of a Portfolio that is established by the Trustees to
be taxable as a separate partnership for federal income tax purposes shall have
no par value. Shares shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
when issued for such consideration as the Trustees shall determine. All Shares
issued in connection with a dividend or other distribution in Shares or a split
or reverse split of Shares shall be fully paid and non-assessable.
3.1.2 Pursuant to Section 3806(b) of the Delaware Act, the Trustees shall
have authority, from time to time, (a) to establish Shares of one or more
series, each of which constitutes a "Portfolio" and shall be separate and
distinct from the Shares in any other Portfolio and (b) to further divide
Shares of any Portfolio into one or more separate and distinct classes of
Shares, each of which constitutes a "Class".
3.1.3 The Portfolios shall include, without limitation, those Portfolios
specifically established and designated in Section 3.2.3 hereof, and such other
Portfolios as the Trustees may deem necessary or desirable. The Trustees shall
have exclusive power, without the requirement of Shareholder approval, from
time to time, to establish and designate separate and distinct Portfolios, and,
subject to the provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the 1940 Act, to fix
and determine the rights of Shareholders of Shares in such Portfolios. If only
one Portfolio shall be established, unless provided for otherwise, the Shares
shall have the rights and preferences provided for herein and in Section 3.4
hereof to the extent relevant.
3.1.4 This Trust is a series trust pursuant to Sections 3804(a) and
3806(b) of the Delaware Act, and each Portfolio shall be a separate series of
the Trust within the meaning of Section 3806(b)(2) of the Delaware Act. As
such, separate and distinct records shall be maintained for each Portfolio and
the assets of the Trust associated with each Portfolio shall be held in such
separate and distinct records (directly or indirectly, including through a
nominee or otherwise) and accounted for in such separate and distinct records
separately from the other assets of the Trust or any other Portfolio. The
debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred, contracted for or
otherwise existing with respect to each Portfolio shall be enforceable against
the assets of such Portfolio only, and not against the assets of the Trust
generally or the assets of any other Portfolio nor shall the assets of any
Portfolio be charged with the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses
incurred, contracted for or otherwise existing with respect to another
Portfolio, or, except as otherwise provided herein, the Trust generally.
Section 3.2 Establishment and Designation of Portfolios and Classes.
3.2.1 Portfolios. The Trust shall consist of one or more separate and
distinct Portfolios, each with an unlimited number of Shares unless otherwise
specified by the Trustees. Any fractional Share of a Portfolio shall have
proportionately all rights and obligations of a whole share of such Portfolio,
including rights with respect to voting, receipt of dividends and distributions
and redemptions of Shares as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof.
3.2.2 Classes. The Trustees may establish one or more Classes of Shares of
any Portfolio, each with an unlimited number of Shares unless otherwise
specified by the Trustees. Each Class so established and designated shall
represent a proportionate undivided interest (as determined by or at the
direction of, or pursuant to authority granted by, the Trustees)
("Proportionate Interest") in the net assets belonging to that Portfolio and
shall have identical voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights,
preferences, powers, restrictions, limitations and designations and be subject
to the same terms and conditions, except that:
(a) each Class may be subject to separate initial and/or deferred sales
charges, each as determined by the Trustees;
(b) Class Expenses allocated to a Class for which such expenses were
incurred shall be borne solely by that Class;
(c) other expenses, costs, charges and reserves allocated to a Class in
accordance with Section 3.4.2 may be borne solely by that Class,
provided that the allocation of such other expenses, costs, charges,
and reserves is not specifically required to be set forth in a plan
adopted by the Trust pursuant to Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act;
(d) dividends declared and payable to a Class pursuant to Section 3.4.3
shall reflect the items separately allocated thereto pursuant to the
preceding clauses; and
(e) each Class may have separate rights to convert to another Class,
exchange rights, and similar rights, each as determined by the
Trustees.
3.2.3 Establishment and Designation by Action of the Trustees. The
Trustees hereby establish and designate the Portfolios and Classes listed on
Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Each additional Portfolio
and the Classes of such additional Portfolio shall be established by the
adoption of a resolution adopted by a majority of the Trustees. Each such
resolution is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of the
Declaration of Trust whether or not expressly stated in such resolution, and
shall be effective upon the occurrence of both (a) the date stated therein (or,
if no such date is stated, upon the date of such adoption) and (b) the
execution of an amendment either to this Declaration of Trust or to Schedule A
hereto establishing and designating such additional Portfolios and Classes.
Section 3.3 Actions Affecting Portfolios. Subject to the right of Shareholders,
if any, to vote pursuant to Section 7.1, the Trustees shall have full power and
authority, in their sole discretion without obtaining any prior authorization
or vote of the Shareholders of any Portfolio, or any Class or Classes thereof,
to fix or change such preferences, voting powers, rights and privileges of any
Portfolio, or Classes thereof, as the Trustees may from time to time determine,
including any change that may adversely affect a Shareholder; to divide or
combine the Shares of any Portfolio, or Classes thereof, into a greater or
lesser number; to classify, reclassify or convert any issued Shares of any
Portfolio, or Classes thereof, into one or more Portfolios or Classes of Shares
of a Portfolio; and to take such other action with respect to the Shares as the
Trustees may deem desirable. A Portfolio may issue any number of Shares but
need not issue any Shares. At any time that there are no outstanding Shares of
any particular Portfolio previously established and designated, the Trustees
may abolish that Portfolio and the establishment and designation thereof.
Section 3.4 Relative Rights and Preferences. Shares of each Portfolio
established pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, unless otherwise provided in the
resolution establishing such Portfolio, shall have the following relative
rights and preferences:
3.4.1 Assets Held with Respect to a Particular Portfolio or Class.
(a) Specific Assets. All consideration received by the Trust for the
issue or sale of Shares of a particular Portfolio, including dividends and
distributions paid by, and reinvested in, such Portfolio, together with all
assets in which such consideration is invested or reinvested, all income,
earnings, profits, and proceeds thereof from whatever source derived,
including, without limitation, any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or
liquidation of such assets, and any funds or payments derived from any
reinvestment of such proceeds in whatever form the same may be, shall
irrevocably be held with respect to that Portfolio for all purposes, subject
only to the rights of creditors, and shall be so recorded upon the books of
account of the Trust. Such consideration, assets, income, earnings, profits and
proceeds thereof, from whatever source derived, including, without limitation,
any proceeds derived from the sale, exchange or liquidation of such assets, and
any funds or payments derived from any reinvestment of such proceeds, in
whatever form the same may be, are herein referred to as "assets held with
respect to" that Portfolio.
(b) General Assets. In the event that there are any assets, income,
earnings, profits and proceeds thereof, or any funds or payments derived from
any reinvestment of such proceeds, which are not readily identifiable as assets
held with respect to any particular Portfolio (collectively "General Assets"),
the Trustees shall allocate such General Assets to, between or among any one or
more of the Portfolios in such manner and on such basis as the Trustees, in
their sole discretion, deem fair and equitable, and any General Asset so
allocated to a particular Portfolio shall be held with respect to that
Portfolio. Each such allocation by the Trustees shall be conclusive and binding
upon the Shareholders of all Portfolios for all purposes in absence of manifest
error.
(c) Class Proportionate Interests. Each Class of a Portfolio shall
have a Proportionate Interest in the net assets belonging to that Portfolio.
References herein to assets, expenses, charges, costs and reserves "allocable"
or "allocated" to a particular Class of a Portfolio shall mean the aggregate
amount of such items held with respect to such Portfolio multiplied by the
Class's Proportionate Interest.
3.4.2 Liabilities Held with Respect to a Particular Portfolio or Class.
(a) Specific Liabilities. The assets of the Trust held with respect
to each Portfolio shall be charged with the liabilities of the Trust with
respect to such Portfolio and all expenses, costs, charges and reserves
attributable to such Portfolio. Class Expenses shall, in all cases, be
allocated to the Class for which such Class Expenses were incurred.
(b) General Liabilities. Any general liabilities, expenses, costs,
charges or reserves of the Trust or any Portfolio that are not readily
identifiable as belonging to a particular Portfolio or any particular Class
thereof shall be allocated and charged by the Trustees, between or among any
one or more of the Portfolios or Classes in such manner and on such basis as
the Trustees in their sole discretion deem fair and equitable. Each allocation
of liabilities, expenses, costs, charges and reserves by the Trustees shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders of all Portfolios for all purposes
in absence of manifest error.
(c) Claims of Creditors. All Persons who have extended credit which
has been allocated to a particular Portfolio, or who have a claim or contract
which has been allocated to a Portfolio, shall look exclusively to the assets
held with respect to such Portfolio for payment of such credit, claim, or
contract. None of the debts, liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred,
contracted or otherwise existing with respect to the Trust generally that have
not been allocated to a specified Portfolio, or with respect to any other
Portfolio, shall be enforceable against the assets of such specified Portfolio.
Each creditor, claimant and contracting party shall be deemed nevertheless to
have agreed to such limitation unless an express provision to the contrary has
been incorporated in the written contract or other document establishing the
contractual relationship.
3.4.3 Dividends, Distributions, Redemptions, and Repurchases.
(a) Dividends and Distributions. Shareholders of any Portfolio shall
be entitled to receive dividends and distributions, when, if and as declared
with respect thereto in the manner provided in Section 8.1 hereof. The Trustees
shall have full discretion to determine which items shall be treated as income
and which items as capital; and each such determination and allocation shall be
conclusive and binding upon the Shareholders in absence of manifest error. The
Trustees may adopt and offer to Shareholders such dividend reinvestment plans,
cash distribution payment plans, or similar plans as the Trustees deem
appropriate.
(b) No Priority or Preference. No Share shall have any priority or
preference over any other Share of the same Portfolio or Class thereof with
respect to dividends or distributions of the Trust or otherwise. All dividends
and other distributions on Shares of a particular Portfolio or Class shall be
distributed pro rata to the Shareholders of such Portfolio or Class, as the
case may be, in proportion to the number of Shares of such Portfolio or Class
they held on the record date established for such payment, provided that such
dividends and other distributions on Shares of a Class shall appropriately
reflect Class Expenses and other expenses allocated to that Class.
(c) Source of Dividends and Distributions. No dividend or
distribution including, without limitation, any distribution paid upon
termination of the Trust or of any Portfolio or Class with respect to, or any
redemption or repurchase of, the Shares of any Portfolio or Class shall be
effected by the Trust other than from the assets held with respect to such
Portfolio or Class, nor shall any Shareholder of any Portfolio or Class
otherwise have any right or claim against the assets held with respect to any
other Portfolio or Class except to the extent that such Shareholder has such a
right or claim hereunder as a Shareholder of such other Portfolio or Class.
3.4.4 Voting. Each Share shall have voting rights as provided in Article 7
hereof. All Shares of the Trust entitled to vote on a matter shall vote without
differentiation among the separate Portfolios or Classes on a
one-vote-per-Share basis; provided, however, that:
(a) if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of certain
Portfolios, then only the Shareholders of such affected Portfolios
shall be entitled to vote on the matter;
(b) if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of a single
Portfolio, then only the Shareholders of such Portfolio shall be
entitled to vote on the matter;
(c) if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of certain
Classes, then only the Shareholders of such affected Classes shall be
entitled to vote on the matter; and
(d) if a matter to be voted on affects only the interests of a single
Class, then only the Shareholders of such Class shall be entitled to
vote on the matter.
3.4.5 Exchange Privilege. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that the Shareholders of any Portfolio shall have the right to exchange such
Shares for Shares of one or more other Portfolios in accordance with such
requirements and procedures as may be established by the Trustees.
3.4.6 Transferability. The Trustees shall have the authority to provide
that the shares of a Portfolio are non-transferable.
3.4.7 Pre-emptive Rights. Shareholders shall have no pre-emptive or other
right to subscribe to any additional Shares or other securities issued by the
Trust or any Portfolio.
Section 3.5 Notices. Any and all notices to which any Shareholder may be
entitled and any and all communications shall be deemed duly served or given
(a) if mailed, postage prepaid, addressed to any Shareholder of record at the
Shareholder's last known address as recorded on the register of the Trust, (b)
if sent by electronic transmission to the Shareholder of record at the
Shareholder's last known address for electronic delivery as recorded on the
register of the Trust, (c) if mailed or sent by electronic delivery to one or
more members of the Shareholder's household in accordance with applicable law
or regulation, or (d) if otherwise sent in accordance with applicable law or
regulation.
Section 3.6 Ownership of Shares. The ownership of Shares shall be recorded on
the books of the Trust or a transfer or similar agent for the Trust, which
books shall be maintained separately for the Shares of each Portfolio and Class
thereof. No certificates evidencing the ownership of Shares shall be issued
except as the Board of Trustees may otherwise determine from time to time. The
Trustees may make such rules as they consider appropriate for the transfer of
Shares of each Portfolio and similar matters and, by resolution, may restrict
the transfer of Shares of a Portfolio. The record books of the Trust as kept by
the Trust or any transfer or similar agent, as the case may be, shall be
conclusive as to the identity of the Shareholders of each Portfolio and as to
the number of Shares of each Portfolio and Class thereof held from time to time
by each Shareholder.
Section 3.7 Investments in the Trust. Investments may be accepted by the Trust
from such Persons, at such times, on such terms, and for such consideration as
the Trustees from time to time may authorize. Each investment shall be credited
to the Shareholder's account in the form of full and fractional Shares of the
Trust in such Portfolio and Class as the purchaser shall select, at the net
asset value per Share next determined for such Portfolio and Class after
receipt of the investment; provided, however, that the Trustees may, in their
sole discretion, impose a sales or other upfront charge upon investments in the
Trust.
Section 3.8 Status of Shares; Limitation of Personal Liability and
Indemnification of Shareholders.
3.8.1 Shares shall be deemed to be personal property giving only the
rights provided in this Declaration of Trust, the By-Laws of the Trust and the
resolutions of the Board of Trustees. Every Shareholder by virtue of having
become a Shareholder shall be held to have expressly assented and agreed to the
terms thereof. The death of a Shareholder during the existence of the Trust
shall not operate to terminate the Trust, nor entitle the representative of any
deceased Shareholder to an accounting or to take any action in court or
elsewhere against the Trust or the Trustees, but shall entitle such
representative only to the rights of said deceased Shareholder under this
Declaration of Trust. Ownership of Shares shall not entitle a Shareholder to
any title in or to the whole or any part of the Trust Property or right to call
for a partition or division of the same or for an accounting, nor shall the
ownership of Shares constitute the Shareholders as partners or joint venturers
except as specifically provided for pursuant to Article 3 herein or by
resolution of the Board of Trustees.
3.8.2 No Shareholder shall be personally liable for the debts,
liabilities, obligations and expenses incurred by, contracted for, or otherwise
existing with respect to, the Trust or any Portfolio. Neither the Trust nor the
Trustees, nor any officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall have any power
to bind personally any Shareholder, or to call upon any Shareholder for the
payment of any sum of money or assessment whatsoever other than such as the
Shareholder may at any time agree to pay. Shareholders shall have the same
limitation of personal liability as is extended to shareholders of private
corporations for profit organized under the general corporation law of the
State of Delaware.
3.8.3 If any Shareholder or former Shareholder of any Portfolio shall be
held personally liable solely by reason of his being or having been a
Shareholder and not because of his acts or omissions or for some other reason,
the Shareholder or former Shareholder (or his heirs, executors, administrators
or other legal representatives or in the case of any entity, its general
successor) shall be entitled out of the assets belonging to the applicable
Portfolio to be held harmless from and indemnified against all loss and expense
arising from such liability. The Trust, on behalf of the affected Portfolio,
shall, upon request by such Shareholder, assume the defense of any such claim
made against such Shareholder for any act or obligation of the Portfolio and
satisfy any judgment thereon from the assets of the Portfolio.
ARTICLE 4
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 4.1 Number. The number of Trustees constituting the Board of Trustees
shall be fixed from time to time by a written instrument signed, or by
resolution approved at a duly constituted meeting, by a majority of the Board
of Trustees, provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no event
be less than one (1) nor more than fifteen (15).
Section 4.2 Election and Tenure. Subject to the requirements of Section 16(a)
of the 1940 Act, the Board of Trustees, by action of a majority of the then
Trustees at a duly constituted meeting, may fill vacancies in the Board of
Trustees and remove Trustees with or without cause. Each Trustee shall serve
during the continued lifetime of the Trust until he or she dies, resigns, is
declared bankrupt or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction, or is
removed. Any Trustee may resign at any time by written instrument signed by him
and delivered to any officer of the Trust or to a meeting of the Trustees. Such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at
some other time. Except to the extent expressly provided in a written agreement
with the Trust, no Trustee resigning and no Trustee removed shall have any
right to any compensation for any period following his or her resignation or
removal, or any right to damages or other payment on account of such removal.
Any Trustee may be removed at any meeting of Shareholders by a vote of
two-thirds of the outstanding Shares of the Trust. A meeting of Shareholders
for the purpose of electing or removing one or more Trustees may be called (a)
by the Trustees upon their own vote, or (b) upon the demand of Shareholders
owning ten percent (10%) or more of the Shares of the Trust in the aggregate.
Section 4.3 Effect of Death, Resignation, etc. of a Trustee. The death,
declination, resignation, retirement, removal, or incapacity of one or more
Trustees, or all of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust or to revoke any
existing agency created pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust.
Whenever a vacancy in the Board of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is
filled as provided in Section 4.2, the Trustees in office, regardless of their
number, shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge
all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration of Trust.
Section 4.4 Trustee Compensation. The Trustees as such shall be entitled to
reasonable compensation from the Trust. They may fix the amount of their
compensation. Nothing herein shall in any way prevent the employment of any
Trustee for advisory, management, administrative, legal, accounting, investment
banking, underwriting, brokerage, or investment dealer or other services and
the payment for the same by the Trust.
ARTICLE 5
POWER OF THE TRUSTEES
Section 5.1 Management of the Trust. The Trustees shall have exclusive and
absolute control over the Trust Property and over the business of the Trust to
the extent as if the Trustees were the sole owners of the Trust Property and
business in their own right, but with such powers of delegations as may be
permitted by this Declaration of Trust. The Trustees shall have power to
conduct the business of the Trust and carry on its operations in any and all of
its branches and maintain offices both within and without the State of
Delaware, in any and all states of the United States America, in the District
of Columbia, in any and all commonwealths, territories, dependencies, colonies,
or possessions of the United Sates of America, and in any and all foreign
jurisdictions and to do all such other things and execute any and all such
instruments that they may consider desirable, necessary or appropriate in order
to promote the interests of the Trust although such things are not herein
specifically mentioned. Any determination as to what is in the interests of the
Trust made by the Trustees in good faith shall be conclusive. In construing the
provisions of this Declaration of Trust, the presumption shall be in favor of a
grant of power to the Trustees and unless otherwise specified herein or
required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law, any action by the Board of
Trustees shall be deemed effective if approved or taken by a majority of the
Trustees then in office or a majority of any duly constituted committee of
Trustees. The enumeration of any specific power in this Declaration of Trust
shall not be construed as limiting the aforesaid power. The powers of the
Trustees may be exercised without order of or resort to any court or other
authority.
Section 5.2 Manner of Acting; By-Laws. Except as otherwise provided herein or
in the 1940 Act, any action to be taken by the Board of Trustees or any
committee thereof may be taken by:
(a) a majority of the Trustees or the members of the committee (as the
case may be) present at a meeting at which a quorum is present,
including any meeting held by means of a conference telephone circuit
or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other; or
(b) a written consent signed by a majority of the Trustees or members of
the committee, as the case may be, filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board of Trustees or committee.
Section 5.3 Powers of the Trustees. Without limiting the provisions of Section
5.1, the Trust shall have power and authority:
5.3.1 To operate as, and to carry on the business of, an investment
company, and exercise all the powers necessary and appropriate to the conduct
of such operations;
5.3.2 To invest and reinvest cash and cash items, to hold cash uninvested,
and to subscribe for, invest in, reinvest in, purchase or otherwise acquire,
own, hold, pledge, sell, assign, transfer, exchange, distribute, write options
on, lend or otherwise deal in or dispose of contracts for the future
acquisition or delivery of all types of securities, futures contracts and
options thereon, and forward currency contracts of every nature and kind,
including, without limitation, all types of bonds, debentures, stocks,
preferred stocks, negotiable or non-negotiable instruments, obligations,
evidences of indebtedness, certificates of deposit or indebtedness, commercial
paper, repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances, and other securities of any
kind, issued, created, guaranteed, or sponsored by any and all Persons,
including, without limitation, the government of the United States and any
agencies or instrumentalities thereof, states, territories, and possessions of
the United States and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality thereof, any foreign government or any political
subdivision of the U.S. Government or any foreign government, or any
international instrumentality or organization, or by any bank or savings
institution, or by any corporation or organization organized under the laws of
the United States or of any state, territory, or possession thereof, or by any
corporation or organization organized under any foreign law, or in "when
issued" contracts for any such securities, futures contracts and options
thereon, and forward currency contracts; to change the investments of the
assets of the Trust; and to exercise any and all rights, powers, and privileges
of ownership or interest in respect of any and all such investments of every
kind and description, including, without limitation, the right to consent and
otherwise act with respect thereto, with power to designate one or more
Persons, to exercise any of said rights, powers, and privileges in respect of
any of said instruments;
5.3.3 To sell, exchange, lend, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, lease, or
write options with respect to or otherwise deal in any property rights relating
to any or all of the assets of the Trust or any Portfolio;
5.3.4 To vote or give assent, or exercise any rights of ownership, with
respect to stock or other securities or property; and to execute and deliver
proxies or powers of attorney to such person or persons as the Trustees shall
deem proper, granting to such person or persons such power and discretion with
relation to securities or property as the Trustees shall deem proper;
5.3.5 To exercise powers and rights of subscription or otherwise which in
any manner arise out of ownership of securities;
5.3.6 To hold any security or property in a form not indicating that it is
Trust Property, whether in bearer, book entry, unregistered or other negotiable
form, or in its own name or in the name of a custodian or subcustodian or a
nominee or nominees or otherwise or to authorize the custodian or a
subcustodian or a nominee or nominees to deposit the same in a securities
depository, subject in each case to the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act;
5.3.7 To consent to, or participate in, any plan for the reorganization,
consolidation or merger of any corporation or issuer of any security which is
held in the Trust; to consent to any contract, lease, mortgage, purchase or
sale of property by such corporation or issuer; and to pay calls or
subscriptions with respect to any security held in the Trust;
5.3.8 To join with other security holders in acting through a committee,
depositary, voting trustee or otherwise, and in that connection to deposit any
security with, or transfer any security to, any such committee, depositary or
trustee, and to delegate to them such power and authority with relation to any
security (whether or not so deposited or transferred) as the Trustees shall
deem proper, and to agree to pay, and to pay, such portion of the expenses and
compensation of such committee, depositary or trustee as the Trustees shall
deem proper;
5.3.9 To litigate, compromise, arbitrate, settle or otherwise adjust
claims in favor of or against the Trust or a Portfolio, or any matter in
controversy, including but not limited to claims for taxes;
5.3.10 To enter into joint ventures, general or limited partnerships and
any other combinations or associations;
5.3.11 To borrow funds or other property in the name of the Trust or
Portfolio exclusively for Trust purposes;
5.3.12 To endorse or guarantee the payment of any notes or other
obligations of any Person; to make contracts of guaranty or suretyship, or
otherwise assume liability for payment thereof;
5.3.13 Subject to Article 9, to purchase and pay for entirely out of Trust
Property such insurance as the Trustees may deem necessary, desirable or
appropriate for the conduct of the business, including, without limitation,
insurance policies insuring the assets of the Trust or payment of distributions
and principal on its portfolio investments, and insurance policies insuring the
Shareholders, Trustees, officers, employees, agents, the Investment Manager,
Principal Underwriters, or independent contractors of the Trust, individually
against all claims and liabilities of every nature arising by reason of holding
Shares, holding, being or having held any such office or position, or by reason
of any action taken or omitted, or alleged to have been taken or omitted, by
any such Person as Trustee, officer, employee, agent, the Investment Manager,
Principal Underwriter, or independent contractor, including any action taken or
omitted that may be determined to constitute negligence;
5.3.14 Subject to the provisions of Section 3804 of the Delaware Act, to
allocate assets, liabilities and expenses of the Trust to a particular
Portfolio or to apportion the same between or among two or more Portfolios,
provided that any liabilities or expenses incurred by a particular Portfolio
shall be payable solely out of the assets of that Portfolio;
5.3.15 To adopt, establish and carry out pension, profit-sharing, share
bonus, share purchase, savings, thrift and other retirement, incentive and
benefit plans, trusts and provisions, including the purchasing of life
insurance and annuity contracts as a means of providing such retirement and
other benefits, for any or all of the Trustees, officers, employees and agents
of the Trust;
5.3.16 To adopt, amend and repeal By-Laws not inconsistent with this
Declaration of Trust providing for the regulation and management of the affairs
of the Trust;
5.3.17 To elect and remove such officers and appoint and terminate such
agents as they consider appropriate;
5.3.18 To appoint from their own and establish and terminate one or more
committees consisting of two or more Trustees who may exercise the powers and
authority of the Board of Trustees to the extent that the Trustees determine
and to adopt a committee charter providing for such responsibilities;
5.3.19 Subject to the 1940 Act and in accordance with Section 6.1, to
retain one or more Investment Managers to manage the assets of the Trust (or
any Portfolio) and to authorize such Investment Managers to employ one or more
sub-advisers;
5.3.20 In accordance with Section 6.3, to employ one or more custodians of
the assets of the Trust and to authorize such custodians to employ
subcustodians and to deposit all or any part of such assets in a system or
systems for the central handling of securities or with a Federal Reserve Bank;
5.3.21 In accordance with Section 6.3, to retain one or more
administrators, transfer agents or shareholder servicing agents;
5.3.22 Subject to the 1940 Act and in accordance with Section 6.2, to
provide for the issuance and distribution of Shares by the Trust directly or
through one or more Principal Underwriters or otherwise;
5.3.23 To set record dates for the determination of Shareholders with
respect to various matters; declare and pay dividends and distributions to
Shareholders of each Portfolio from the assets of such Portfolio;
5.3.24 To establish from time to time one or more separate and distinct
Portfolios with separately defined investment objectives and policies and
distinct investment purposes in accordance with Article 3 hereof;
5.3.25 To interpret the investment policies, practices or limitations of
any Portfolio;
5.3.26 To establish, from time to time, a minimum investment for
Shareholders in the Trust or in one or more Portfolios, or to require the
redemption of the Shares of any Shareholder whose investment is less than such
minimum upon giving notice to such Shareholder or in accordance with Section
8.3;
5.3.27 To delegate such authority as they consider desirable to any
officer of the Trust, to any committee of the Trustees and to any agent or
employee of the Trust or to any such custodian, administrator, transfer or
servicing agents, Investment Manager or Principal Underwriter;
5.3.28 In general to carry on any other business in connection with or
incidental to any of the foregoing powers, to do everything necessary, suitable
or proper for the accomplishment of any purpose or the attainment of any object
or the furtherance of any power set forth herein, either alone or in
association with others, and to do every other act or thing incidental or
appurtenant to or arising from the businesses, purposes, objects or powers set
forth above.
The Trust shall not be limited to investing in obligations maturing before the
possible termination of the Trust or one or more of its Portfolios. The Trust
shall not in any way be bound or limited by any present or future law or custom
in regard to investment by fiduciaries. The Trust shall not be required to
obtain any court order to deal with any assets of the Trust or take any other
action hereunder.
Section 5.4 Payment of Expenses by the Trust. The Trustees are authorized to
pay or cause to be paid out of the principal or income of the Trust or a
Portfolio, or partly out of the principal and partly out of income, and to
charge or allocate the same to, between or among such one or more of the
Portfolios, all expenses, fees, charges, taxes and liabilities incurred or
arising in connection with the Trust or Portfolios, or in connection with the
management thereof, including, but not limited to, the Trustees' compensation
and such expenses and charges for the services of the Trust's officers,
employees, any Investment Manager, Principal Underwriter, auditors, counsel,
custodian, transfer agent, servicing agents, administrator and such other
agents or independent contractors and such other expenses and charges as the
Trustees may deem necessary or proper to incur.
Section 5.5 Ownership of Assets of the Trust. Title to all of the assets of the
Trust shall at all times be considered as vested in the Trust, except that the
Trustees shall have power to cause legal title to any Trust Property to be held
by or in the name of one or more of the Trustees, or in the name of the Trust,
or in the name of any other Person as nominee, on such terms as the Trustees
may determine. Upon the resignation, incompetency, bankruptcy, removal, or
death of a Trustee he or she shall automatically cease to have any such title
in any of the Trust Property, and the title of such Trustee in the Trust
Property shall vest automatically in the remaining Trustees. Such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents
have been executed and delivered. The Trustees may determine that the Trust or
the Trustees, acting for and on behalf of the Trust, shall be deemed to hold
beneficial ownership of any income earned on the securities owned by the Trust,
whether domestic or foreign.
Section 5.6 Issuance and Repurchase of Shares. The Trustees shall have the
power to issue, sell, transfer, repurchase, redeem, retire, cancel, acquire,
hold, resell, reissue, dispose of, or other wise deal in Shares and, subject to
applicable law and the provisions set forth in Section 3.3 hereof, to apply to
any such repurchase, redemption, retirement, cancellation or acquisition of
Shares any funds or property of the Trust, or any assets belonging to the
particular Portfolio, with respect to which such Shares are issued.
Section 5.7 Power of Board of Trustees to Change Provisions Relating to Shares.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration of Trust to the
contrary, and without limiting the power of the Board of Trustees to amend this
Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees shall have the power to amend this
Declaration of Trust, at any time and from time to time, in such manner as the
Board of Trustees may determine in their sole discretion, without the need for
action by any Shareholder, so as to add to, delete, replace or otherwise modify
any provisions relating to the Shares contained in this Declaration of Trust,
provided that before adopting any such amendment without approval of the
Shareholders, the Board of Trustees shall determine that it is consistent with
the fair and equitable treatment of all Shareholders or that approval of the
Shareholders is not required by the 1940 Act or other applicable law. If Shares
of any Portfolio have been issued, approval of the Shareholders of such
Portfolio shall be required to adopt any amendments to this Declaration of
Trust which would adversely affect to a material degree the rights and
preferences of the Shares of such Portfolio or to increase or decrease the par
value of the Shares of such Portfolio.
ARTICLE 6
SERVICE CONTRACTS
Section 6.1 Investment Manager. The Trustees may, at any time and from time to
time, contract for exclusive or nonexclusive advisory, management and, if
applicable, administrative services for the Trust or for any Portfolio with any
Person; and any such contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may
determine, including without limitation, authority for the Investment Manager
to determine from time to time without prior consultation with the Trustees
what investments shall be purchased, held, sold or exchanged and what portion,
if any, of the assets of the Trust shall be held uninvested and to make changes
in the Trust's investments, and such other responsibilities as may specifically
be delegated to such Person. The Trustees may authorize the Investment Manager
to employ, from time to time, one or more sub-advisers to perform such of the
acts and services of the Investment Manager, and upon such terms and
conditions, as may be agreed among the Trustees, the Investment Manager and
sub-adviser. Any reference in this Declaration of Trust to the Investment
Manager shall be deemed to include such sub-advisers, unless the context
otherwise requires.
Section 6.2 Principal Underwriter. The Trustees may also, at any time and from
time to time, contract with any Persons, appointing such Persons exclusive or
nonexclusive distributor or Principal Underwriter for the Shares of one or more
of the Portfolios or other securities to be issued by the Trust. Every such
contract may contain such other terms as the Trustees may determine.
Section 6.3 Other Service Contracts. The Trustees are also empowered, at any
time and from time to time, to contract with any Persons, appointing such
Person(s) to serve as custodian(s), administrator(s), transfer agent(s) and/or
shareholder servicing agent(s) for the Trust or one or more of its Portfolios.
Every such contract shall comply with such terms as may be required by the
Trustees. The Trustees are further empowered, at any time and from time to
time, to contract with any Persons to provide such other services to the Trust
or one or more of the Portfolios, as the Trustees determine to be in the best
interests of the Trust and the applicable Portfolios.
Section 6.4 Validity of Contracts. The fact that:
(a) any of the Shareholders, Trustees, or officers of the Trust is a
shareholder, director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, Manager, adviser,
Principal Underwriter, distributor, or affiliate or agent of or for any Person
with which an advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal
Underwriter's or distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or
other type of service contract may be made, or
(b) any Person with which an advisory, management or administration
contract or Principal Underwriter's or distributor's contract, or transfer,
shareholder servicing or other type of service contract may be made also has an
advisory, management or administration contract, or Principal Underwriter's or
distributor's contract, or transfer, shareholder servicing or other service
contract, or has other business or interests with any other Person,
shall not affect the validity of any such contract or disqualify any
Shareholder, Trustee or officer of the Trust from voting upon or executing the
same, or create any liability or accountability to the Trust or its
Shareholders, provided approval of each such contract is made pursuant to the
applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE 7
SHAREHOLDERS' VOTING POWERS AND MEETINGS
Section 7.1 Voting Powers. The Shareholders shall have right to vote only:
(a) for removal of Trustees as provided in Section 4.2 hereof;
(b) with respect to such additional matters relating to the Trust as may
be required by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, including
Section 16(a) thereof;
(c) with respect to matters specified in Section 10.2; and
(d) on such other matters as the Trustees may consider necessary or
desirable.
Each whole Share shall be entitled to one vote as to any matter on which it is
entitled to vote and each fractional Share shall be entitled to a proportionate
fractional vote. There shall be no cumulative voting in the election of
Trustees. Shares may be voted in person or by proxy. A proxy purporting to be
executed by or on behalf of a Shareholder shall be deemed valid unless
challenged at or prior to its exercise and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest on the challenger.
Section 7.2 Meetings. Meetings of the Shareholders may be called by the
Trustees for the purposes described in Section 7.1 hereof. A meeting of
Shareholders may be held at any place designated by the Trustees. Written
notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall be given or caused to be given by
the Trustees by delivering personally or mailing such notice at least seven (7)
days before such meeting, postage prepaid, stating the time and place of the
meeting, to each Shareholder in accordance with Section 3.5. Whenever notice of
a meeting is required to be given to a Shareholder under this Declaration of
Trust, a written waiver thereof, executed before or after the meeting by such
Shareholder or his or her attorney thereunto authorized and filed with the
records of the meeting, or actual attendance at the meeting of Shareholders in
person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice.
Section 7.3 Quorum and Required Vote. Except when a larger quorum is required
by the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, forty percent (40%) of the Shares
entitled to vote on a matter shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of the
Shareholders. Any meeting of Shareholders may be adjourned from time to time by
a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question of adjourning a meeting
to another date and time, whether or not a quorum is present, and the meeting
may be held as adjourned within a reasonable time after the date set for the
original meeting without further notice. Subject to Section 3.4.4 and the
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, when a quorum is present at any meeting,
a majority of the Shares voted shall decide any questions, except only a
plurality vote shall be necessary to elect Trustees.
Section 7.4 Action by Written Consent. Any action taken by Shareholders may be
taken without a meeting if Shareholders holding a majority of the Shares
entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be
required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust or by the
By-Laws) and holding a majority (or such larger proportion as aforesaid) of the
Shares of any Portfolio (or Class) entitled to vote separately on the matter
consent to the action in writing and such written consents are filed with the
records of the meetings of Shareholders. Such consent shall be treated for all
purposes as a vote taken at a meeting of Shareholders.
Section 7.5 Record Dates. For the purpose of determining the Shareholders who
are entitled to vote or act at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, the
Trustees may fix a time, which shall be not more than ninety (90) days before
the date of any meeting of Shareholders, as the record date for determining the
Shareholders having the right to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any
adjournment thereof, and in such case only Shareholders of record on such
record date shall have such right, notwithstanding any transfer of Shares on
the books of the Trust after the record date. For the purpose of determining
the Shareholders who are entitled to receive payment of any dividend or of any
other distribution, the Trustees may fix a date, which shall be before the date
for the payment of such dividend or distribution, as the record date for
determining the Shareholders having the right to receive such dividend or
distribution. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as precluding the
Trustees from setting different record dates for different Portfolios.
ARTICLE 8
NET ASSET VALUE, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND REDEMPTIONS
Section 8.1 Determination of Net Asset Value, Net Income, and Distributions.
The Trustees, in their absolute discretion, may prescribe and shall set forth
in the By-laws or in a duly adopted resolution of the Trustees such bases and
time for determining the per Share net asset value of the Shares of any
Portfolio and the net income attributable to the Shares of any Portfolio and
the declaration and payment of dividends and distributions on the Shares of any
Portfolio, as they may deem necessary or desirable.
Section 8.2 Redemptions and Repurchases.
8.2.1 The Trust shall purchase such Shares as are offered by any
Shareholder for redemption, upon the presentation of a proper instrument of
transfer together with a request directed to the Trust or a Person designated
by the Trust that the Trust redeem such Shares or in accordance with such
procedures for redemption as the Trustees may from time to time authorize; and
the Trust will pay therefor the net asset value thereof, less any applicable
redemption fee and sales charge, in accordance with the By-Laws, the applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act or as further provided by resolution of the
Trustees. Payment for said Shares shall be made by the Trust to the Shareholder
within seven days after the date on which the request for redemption is
received in proper form. The obligation set forth in this Section 8.2 is
subject to the provision that in the event that any time the New York Stock
Exchange (the "Exchange") is closed for other than weekends or holidays, or if
permitted by the rules of the Commission during periods when trading on the
Exchange is restricted or during any emergency which makes it impracticable for
the Trust to dispose of the investments of the applicable Portfolio or to
determine fairly the value of the net assets held with respect to such
Portfolio or during any other period permitted by order of the Commission for
the protection of investors, such obligations may be suspended or postponed by
the Trustees.
8.2.2 In the event that the Trust files an election under Rule 18f-1 under
the 1940 Act, the redemption price may in any case or cases be paid in cash or
wholly or partly in kind in accordance with Rule l8f-1 under the 1940 Act if
the Trustees determine that such payment is advisable in the interest of the
remaining Shareholders of the Portfolio of which the Shares are being redeemed.
Subject to the foregoing, the selection and quantity of securities or other
property so paid or delivered as all or part of the redemption price shall be
determined by or under authority of the Trustees. In no case shall the Trust be
liable for any delay of any corporation or other Person in transferring
securities selected for delivery as all or part of any payment in kind.
Section 8.3 Redemptions at the Option of the Trust. The Trust shall have the
right, at its option, at any time to redeem Shares of any Shareholder at the
net asset value thereof as described in Section 8.1 herein, less any applicable
redemption fee and sales charge, or as further provided by resolution of
Trustees: (a) if at such time such Shareholder owns Shares of any Portfolio
having an aggregate net asset value of less than a minimum value determined
from time to time by the Trustees; (b) to the extent that such Shareholder owns
Shares of a Portfolio equal to or in excess of a maximum percentage of the
outstanding Shares of such Portfolio determined from time to time by the
Trustees; or (c) to the extent that such Shareholder owns Shares equal to or in
excess of a maximum percentage, determined from time to time by the Trustees,
of the outstanding Shares of the Trust. The Trustees may also, at their option,
call for the redemption of Shares of any Shareholder or may refuse to transfer
or issue Shares to any Person to the extent that the same is necessary to
comply with applicable law or advisable to further the purpose for which the
Trust was established. In furtherance of the purposes of the Trust, if an
officer or agent of the Trust has determined that a Shareholder has engaged in
frequent and excessive trading in Shares of a Portfolio, the Trust may require
such Shareholder to redeem such Shareholder's Shares at the net asset value
thereof as described in Section 8.1, less any applicable redemption fee and
sales charge.
To the extent permitted by law, the Trustees may retain the proceeds of any
redemption of Shares required by them for payments of amounts due and owing by
a Shareholder to the Trust or any Portfolio.
Section 8.4 Transfer of Shares. Except to the extent that the Trustees have
provided by resolution that the Shares of a Portfolio are non-transferable, the
Trust shall transfer shares held of record by any Person to any other Person
upon receipt by the Trust or a Person designated by the Trust of a written
request therefore in such form and pursuant to such procedures as may be
approved by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 9
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 9.1 Limitation of Liability of Trustees and Others.
9.1.1 No Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be subject
to any personal liability whatsoever to any Person, other than the Trust or its
Shareholders for any act, omission or obligation of the Trust or any Trustee;
and all Persons shall look solely to the Trust Property for satisfaction of
claims of any nature arising in connection with the affairs of the Trust. No
Trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Trust shall be liable to the Trust
or to any Shareholder, Trustee, officer, employee, or agent of the Trust for
any action or failure to act (including without limitation the failure to
compel in any way any former or acting Trustee to redress any breach of trust)
except for his or her own bad faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of his or her duties involved in the conduct of his or her
office.
9.1.2 Without limiting Section 9.1.1, the appointment, designation or
identification of a Trustee as chairperson of the Board of Trustees, a member
or chairperson of a committee established by the Trustees, an expert on any
topic or in any area (including an audit committee financial expert), or the
lead independent Trustee, or any other special appointment, designation or
identification of a Trustee, shall not impose on that person any duty,
obligation or liability that is greater than the duties, obligations and
liabilities imposed on that person as a Trustee in the absence of the
appointment, designation or identification (except that the foregoing
limitation shall not apply to duties expressly imposed pursuant to the By-Laws,
a committee charter or a Trust policy statement), and no Trustee who has
special skills or expertise, or is appointed, designated or identified as
aforesaid, shall be held to a higher standard of care by virtue thereof. In
addition, no appointment, designation or identification of a Trustee as
aforesaid shall affect in any way that Trustee's rights or entitlement to
indemnification.
9.1.3 Every note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or undertaking
and every other act or thing whatsoever issued, executed or done by or on
behalf of the Trust or the Trustees or any of them in connection with the Trust
shall be conclusively deemed to have been issued, executed or done only in or
with respect to their or his or her capacity as Trustees or Trustee, and such
Trustees or Trustee shall not be personally liable thereon.
Section 9.2 Indemnification.
9.2.1 Subject to Section 9.2.2, the Trust shall indemnify and hold
harmless each and every Trustee and officer of the Trust and each former
Trustee and officer of the Trust (each hereinafter referred to as a "Covered
Person") from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses,
and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to such Person's performance
of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer of the Trust or otherwise relating
to any act, omission, or obligation of the Trust.
9.2.2 No indemnification shall be provided to a Covered Person:
(a) against any liability to the Trust or the Shareholders by reason
of a final adjudication by the court or other body before which the proceeding
was brought that the Covered Person engaged in bad faith, wilful misfeasance,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of
that individual's office;
(b) with respect to any matter as to which the Covered Person shall
have been finally adjudicated not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable
belief that that individual's action was in the best interest of the Trust; or
(c) in the event of a settlement involving a payment by a Trustee, or
officer or other disposition not involving a final adjudication as provided in
paragraph (a) or (b) above resulting in a payment by a Covered Person, unless
there has been either a determination that such Covered Person did not engage
in bad faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the
duties involved in the conduct of that individual's office by the court or
other body approving the settlement or other disposition or a reasonable
determination, based upon a review of readily available facts (as opposed to a
full trial-type inquiry) that that individual did not engage in such conduct:
(i) by vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees (as
defined below) acting on the matter (provided that a majority of the
Disinterested Trustees then in office act on the matter); or
(ii) by written opinion of legal counsel chosen by a majority of
the Trustees and determined by them in their reasonable judgment to be
independent.
9.2.3 The rights of indemnification herein provided may be insured against
by policies maintained by the Trust, shall be severable, shall not affect any
other rights to which any Covered Person may now or hereafter be entitled,
shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Covered Person and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
Nothing contained herein shall affect any rights to indemnification to which
personnel, including Covered Persons, may be entitled by contract or otherwise
under law.
9.2.4 Expenses of preparation and presentation of a defense to any claim,
action, suit, or proceeding of the character described in Section 9.2.1 shall
be advanced by the Trust prior to final disposition thereof upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Covered Person to repay such amount if it is
ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to
indemnification under this Section 9.2, provided that either:
(a) such undertaking is secured by a surety bond or some other
appropriate security or the Trust shall be insured against losses arising out
of any such advances; or
(b) a majority of the Disinterested Trustees acting on the matter
(provided that a majority of the Disinterested Trustees then in office act on
the matter) or legal counsel selected as provided in Section 9.2.2(c)(ii) above
in a written opinion, shall determine, based upon a review of readily available
facts (as opposed to a full trial-type inquiry), that there is reason to
believe that the Covered Person ultimately will be found entitled to
indemnification.
9.2.5 As used in this Section 9.2 in relation to any claim for
indemnification or advances of expenses in relation to any claim, action, suit,
or proceeding, a "Disinterested Trustee" is one (a) who is not an "Interested
Person" of the Trust (including anyone who has been exempted from being an
"Interested Person" by any rule, regulation or order of the Commission), and
(b) against whom neither such claim, action, suit or proceeding nor another
claim, action, suit or proceeding on the same or similar grounds is then or had
been pending.
9.2.6 In making a determination under Section 9.2.2(c) as to whether a
Covered Person engaged in the conduct described therein, or under Section
9.2.4(b) as to whether there is reason to believe that a Covered Person
ultimately will be found entitled to indemnification, the Disinterested
Trustees or legal counsel making the determination shall afford the Covered
Person a rebuttable presumption that the Covered Person has not engaged in bad
faith, wilful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of the Covered Person's office and has acted in good
faith in the reasonable belief that the Covered Person's action was in the best
interest of the Trust.
Section 9.2. Trustee's Good Faith Action, Expert Advice, No Bond or Surety. The
exercise by the Trustees of their powers hereunder shall be binding upon
everyone interested in or dealing with the Trust. The Trustees, officers,
employees, and agents of the Trust shall not be liable for errors of judgment
or mistakes of fact or law. Each Trustee, officer, employee, and agent of the
Trust shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be under no liability and
fully and completely justified and protected with regard to any act or any
failure to act resulting from reliance in good faith upon the books of account
or other records of the Trust, upon advice of counsel, or upon reports made to
the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by any Investment Manager, the
Principal Underwriters, any transfer agent, custodian, any shareholder
servicing agent, selected dealers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or
consultants selected with reasonable care by the Trustees, officers, employees,
or agents of the Trust, regardless of whether such expert or consultant may
also be a Trustee. The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond as such,
nor any surety if a bond is required.
Section 9.3 Liability of Third Persons Dealing with Trustees. No Person dealing
with the Trustees shall be bound to make any inquiry concerning the validity of
any transaction made or to be made by the Trustees or to see to the application
of any payments made or property transferred to the Trust or upon its order.
Section 9.4 Insurance. The Trustees shall be entitled and empowered to the
fullest extent permitted by law to purchase with Trust assets insurance for
liability and for all expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be
paid by any Covered Person in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding in which he or she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity
or former capacity with the Trust.
Section 9.5 Derivative Actions. No Shareholder shall have the right to bring or
maintain any court action, proceeding or claim in the right of the Trust or any
Portfolio or Class thereof to recover a judgment in its favor unless (a)
Shareholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Shares of
the Trust, Portfolio or Class, as applicable, join in the bringing of such
court action, proceeding or claim, and (b) the bringing or maintenance of such
court action, proceeding or claim is otherwise in accordance with Section 3816
of the Delaware Act.
Section 9.6 Modifications of this Article. Any repeal or modification of this
Article 9 by the Shareholders of the Trust, or adoption or modification of any
other provision of this Declaration of Trust or By-laws inconsistent with this
Article 9, shall be prospective only, to the extent that such repeal or
modification would, if applied retrospectively, adversely affect any limitation
on the liability of any Covered Person or indemnification available to any
Covered Person with respect to any act or omission which occurred prior to such
repeal, modification or adoption.
ARTICLE 10
TERMINATION; MERGER; REORGANIZATION
Section 10.1 Termination of Trust or Portfolio.
10.1.1 Unless terminated as provided herein, the Trust shall continue
without limitation of time. The Trust may be terminated at any time by the
Trustees upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Shareholders. Any
Portfolio may be terminated at any time by the Trustees upon sixty (60) days
prior written notice to the Shareholders of that Portfolio.
10.1.2 Upon termination of the Trust (or any Portfolio, as the case may
be), after paying or otherwise providing for all charges, taxes, expenses and
liabilities held, severally, with respect to each Portfolio (or the applicable
Portfolio, as the case may be), whether due or accrued or anticipated as may be
determined by the Trustees, the Trust shall, in accordance with such procedures
as the Trustees consider appropriate, reduce the remaining assets held,
severally, with respect to each Portfolio (or the applicable Portfolio, as the
case may be), to distributable form in cash or shares or other securities, and
any combination thereof, and distribute the proceeds held with respect to each
Portfolio (or the applicable Portfolio, as the case may be), (a) to the
Shareholders of a Portfolio not taxable as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes pro rata according to the number of Shares of that Portfolio held by
the several Shareholders on the date of termination and, (b) to the
Shareholders of a Portfolio taxable as a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, in accordance with the positive Book Capital Account balances of the
Shareholders.
Section 10.2 Merger and Consolidation. The Trustees may cause (a) the Trust or
one or more of its Portfolios to the extent consistent with applicable law to
be merged into or consolidated with another trust, series of another trust or
other Person, (b) the Shares of the Trust or any Portfolio to be converted into
beneficial interests in another trust or series thereof, (c) the Shares to be
exchanged for assets or property under or pursuant to any state or federal
statute to the extent permitted by law or (d) a sale of assets of the Trust or
one or more of its Portfolios. Such merger or consolidation, Share conversion,
Share exchange or sale of assets must be authorized by vote as provided in
Article 7 herein; provided that in all respects not governed by statute or
applicable law, the Trustees shall have power to prescribe the procedure
necessary or appropriate to accomplish a merger or consolidation, Share
conversion, Share exchange, or sale of assets including the power to create one
or more separate trusts to which all or any part of the assets, liabilities,
profits or losses of the Trust may be transferred and to provide for the
conversion of Shares of the Trust or any Portfolio into beneficial interests in
such separate business trust or trusts or series thereof.
Section 10.3 Reorganization. Notwithstanding Section 10.2, the Trustees may,
without the vote or consent of Shareholders, cause to be organized or assist in
organizing a corporation or corporations under the laws of any jurisdiction, or
any other trust, partnership, limited liability company, association or other
organization, or any series or class of any thereof, to acquire all or a
portion of the Trust Property (or all or a portion of the Trust Property held
with respect to a particular Portfolio or allocable to a particular Class) or
to carry on any business in which the Trust shall directly or indirectly have
any interest (any of the foregoing, a "Successor Entity"), and to sell, convey
and transfer such Trust Property to any such Successor Entity in exchange for
the shares or securities thereof or otherwise, and to lend money to, subscribe
for the shares or securities of, and enter into any contracts with any such
Successor Entity in which the Trust holds or is about to acquire shares or any
other interest. The Trustees may also, without the vote or consent of
Shareholders, cause a merger or consolidation between the Trust and any
Successor Entity if and to the extent permitted by law. The Trustees shall
provide written notice to affected Shareholders of each transaction pursuant to
this Section 10.3. Such transactions may be effected through share-for-share
exchanges, transfers or sales of assets, in-kind redemptions and purchases,
exchange offers, or any other method approved by the Trustees.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.1 Amendments. The Trustees may amend this Declaration of Trust by
making an amendment to this Declaration of Trust or to Schedule A hereto, an
agreement supplemental hereto, or an amended and restated trust instrument. Any
such amendment, having been approved by a majority of the Trustees then holding
office, shall become effective, unless otherwise provided by such Trustees,
upon execution by a duly authorized officer of the Trust. The Certificate of
Trust of the Trust may be restated and/or amended by a similar procedure, and
any such restatement and/or amendment shall be effective immediately upon
filing with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or
upon such future date as may be stated therein.
Section 11.2 Filing of Copies. The original or a copy of this Declaration of
Trust and of each restatement and/or amendment hereto shall be kept at the
office of the Trust where it may be inspected by any Shareholder. Anyone
dealing with the Trust may rely on a certificate by an officer of the Trust as
to whether or not any such restatements and/or amendments have been made and as
to any matters in connection with the Trust hereunder; and, with the same
effect as if it were the original, may rely on a copy certified by an officer
of the Trust to be a copy of this Declaration of Trust or of any such
restatements and/or amendments.
Section 11.3 References and Headings. In this Declaration of Trust and in any
such restatements and/or amendment, references to this Declaration of Trust,
and all expressions like "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder," shall be deemed to
refer to this Declaration of Trust as amended or affected by any such
restatements and/or amendments. Headings are placed herein for convenience of
reference only and shall not be taken as a part hereof or control or affect the
meaning, construction or effect of this Declaration of Trust. Whenever the
singular number is used herein, the same shall include the plural; and the
neuter, masculine and feminine genders shall include each other, as applicable.
Section 11.4 Applicable Law. This Declaration of Trust is created under and is
to be governed by and construed and administered according to the laws of the
State of Delaware and the Delaware Act. The Trust shall be a Delaware statutory
trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and without limiting the provisions hereof,
the Trust may exercise all powers which are ordinarily exercised by such a
statutory trust.
Section 11.5 Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulations.
11.5.1. The provisions of this Declaration of Trust are severable, and if
the Trustees shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such
provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or with other
applicable laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed
never to have constituted a part of this Declaration of Trust; provided,
however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining
provisions of this Declaration of Trust or render invalid or improper any
action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
11.5.2. If any provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be held
invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and
shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any
other provision of this Declaration of Trust in any jurisdiction.
Section 11.6 Statutory Trust Only. It is the intention of the Trustees to
create a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act, and thereby to create
only the relationship of trustee and beneficial owners within the meaning of
such act between the Trustees and each Shareholder. Except to the extent
provided by resolution of the Trustees establishing a Portfolio intended to be
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, it is not the
intention of the Trustees to create a general partnership, limited partnership,
joint stock association, corporation, bailment, joint venture, or any form of
legal relationship other than a statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Act,
and except as so provided in such resolution, nothing in this Declaration of
Trust shall be construed to make the Shareholders, either by themselves or with
the Trustees, partners or members of a joint stock association.
Section 11.7 Counterparts. This Declaration of Trust may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of
which, when taken together, shall be deemed to constitute a single document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees named below do hereby make and enter into
this Declaration of Trust of CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST as of March 30, 2005.
------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, as Trustee and Not Individually
------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, as Trustee and Not Individually
SCHEDULE A
TO
AGREEMENT AND DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF
CRM MUTUAL FUND TRUST
SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIOS AND CLASSES
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
PORTFOLIO CLASS OF SHARES
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CRM Small Cap Value Fund Investor Class Shares
Institutional Class Shares
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
CRM Small/Mid Cap Value Fund Investor Class Shares
Institutional Class Shares
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
CRM Mid Cap Value Fund Investor Class Shares
Institutional Class Shares
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
CRM Large Cap Value Fund Investor Class Shares
Institutional Class Shares
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------
